In a controversial move, former President Donald Trump dismissed 17 independent inspectors general at major U.S. government agencies, including the departments of State, Defense, and Transportation. The firings, which took place on Friday, have sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing Trump of dismantling essential oversight mechanisms within the federal government.
The inspectors general, whose role is to conduct audits and investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse of power, were notified by the White House personnel director through emails, informing them of their immediate termination. The dismissals appear to violate federal law, which mandates that the president provide a 30-day notice to both houses of Congress and give reasons for such actions. However, no official comment from the White House was provided at the time of the announcement.
This move is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape the federal bureaucracy, which includes the dismantling of diversity programs and the sidelining of over 150 national security and foreign policy officials. Critics argue that the firings serve to clear the way for Trump to replace these watchdogs with loyalists who may be more favorable to his policies.
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the actions, calling it a “purge of independent watchdogs in the middle of the night.” She voiced concerns that the president’s actions were paving the way for widespread corruption and the erosion of checks on his power.
Trump’s decision was defended by former lawyer Sidney Powell, who claimed that the existing inspectors general were “virtually worthless” and needed to be replaced. Powell argued that these officials had failed to hold the institutions accountable, often protecting the systems in place rather than serving the interests of citizens.
The dismissals are part of a broader pattern, as Trump previously fired five inspectors general in the early months of his first term in 2020. This included the inspector general of the State Department, who had played a significant role in the impeachment proceedings against Trump.
While most of the inspectors general fired on Friday were appointed during Trump’s first term, some of their departures have raised questions about the president’s intentions. The Justice Department inspector general, Michael Horowitz, was notably spared, though details regarding the reasoning behind these selective dismissals remain unclear.
In response to these actions, Congress strengthened protections for inspectors general in 2022, making it harder for presidents to remove them and demanding more transparency when such firings occur. As the controversy over the dismissals continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the future of independent oversight in the U.S. government.
